Today @ Colorado State has been replaced by SOURCE. This site exists as an archive of Today @ Colorado State stories between January 1, 2009 and September 8, 2014.

Sports / Recreation

Volleyball's Coach Hilbert earns 500th career victory

Updated November 8, 2009

Just more than one year after becoming the winningest coach in Colorado State history, Tom Hilbert added yet another milestone victory to his coaching resume on Thursday night.

Started coaching at age 24

The Rams’ head coach, now in his 21st season overall and 13th at CSU, won his 500th career match by leading Colorado State (19-4, 11-1 MWC) to victory over the Air Force Falcons (8-17, 0-12 MWC) in front of 1,092 fans at Moby Arena.

“It’s cool,” said Hilbert of attaining his 500th victory. “I just want to win matches to win a conference championship. I think some Mountain West Conference jewelry would be the ultimate. But 500 wins just means that I’ve been at this a long time. I was 24 years old, starting this career, and there was no way that I thought I’d be doing this at this age, but it’s worked out.”

500 victories in fewer than 22 yrs.

With the victory Hilbert, who entered this season ranked 11th nationally among active NCAA Division I head coaches with a winning percentage of .783, became the 29th active coach with 500 victories, and one of only two at that level with fewer than 22 years of experience.

While the sights of Coach Hilbert celebrating a victory, and a Rams’ sweep - their 33rd consecutive victory over Air Force - are familiar to the Moby faithful, Hilbert gave the fans some new looks as well.

Challenged team with lineup changes

“We were ahead 18-7 in the first set and I started messing with our lineups, and that always messes with your team’s rhythm,” said Hilbert. “It challenged our team a little bit, challenged (sophomore setter) Evan Sanders, and it did what we wanted to do.”

Despite the lineup shifts early in the contest, CSU cruised past the Falcons 25-17 and 25-12 in the first two sets. The Rams’ shook up the lineup even more in the third set, playing without senior leaders Tessa Nelson and Katelin Batten, and needed a late rally to secure the win 27-25 in the deciding third set.

Good energy, intensity

“I challenged my team a lot tonight by putting some different lineups in and playing some people that don’t always play a lot.” added Hilbert. “I wanted to play a set without either senior on the court, and that’s what we did. We struggled with it, and Air Force was playing with a lot of enthusiasm in that last set.”

Junior outside hitter Jacque Davisson, back in the lineup after missing the Rams’ previous match with a concussion, didn’t miss a beat, however, recording 11 kills, six digs, and three blocks, to help lead her team to the win.

“I liked Jacque’s energy throughout the night,” added Hilbert. “She played with really good energy and we need that in these situations. Our team doesn’t always know how hard to play, and we need people on the court who are pushing everyone to play with intensity.”

700th program win Nov. 7

One match after Head Coach Tom Hilbert celebrated his 500th career victory, the Colorado State volleyball team added another milestone win to the books. The Rams on Saturday registered their 700th program win over San Diego State at Moby Arena. [More]